Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE WET AND SOFT TERRAIN.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 27, 1994, at 0900 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N36484, nosed over during a rejected takeoff from a sod airstrip in Finley, Tennessee. The aerial application flight operated under 14 CFR Part 137, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. According to the pilot, the accident occurred during the third departure of the morning.
The pilot stated that he experienced a reduction in engine rpm during the takeoff roll, and elected to reject the takeoff; the wet grass prevented the pilot from stopping the airplane before it rolled off the departure end of the runway. The airplane nosed over in an adjacent plowed field.
An examination of the aircraft and engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical problem. After the airplane was placed upright on the landing gear, a functional check was completed; the engine operated normally throughout the power ranges.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ATL94LA127